Brandon's new top cop faces big challenges in recruiting, retaining officers

The Brandon Police Service officially has a new chief.

Tyler Bates, who has been filling the post since Oct. 15, officially accepted the role in a formal ceremony at Brandon Armoury's parade square on Wednesday where he took his oath of office and received his badge.

Bates says wants the Brandon Police Service (BPS) to be seen as friendly Manitobans in the community.

"Manitobans have a hospitality about them and a friendliness about them … Living in other provinces in this country, you soon realize that there's something very special," Bates said. "That level of engagement, that level of integration is something that I would like to foster."

Bates, a Red River Métis citizen, grew up in the North End of Winnipeg. He joined the RCMP and served for 19 years in the province, working in Virden, Lynn Lake, Thompson and Norway House.

Most recently, he was RCMP chief superintendent in Saskatchewan.

Returning to Manitoba feels like a homecoming, he says.

"It's certainly part of the fabric of who I am," he said. "I'm so happy to be back, it's been a long time."

Recruitment and reconciliation

It took about 18 months to find a Brandon a new police chief, according to Deb Arpin, Brandon Police Board chair.  

Officer recruitment remains a concern at the board, Arpin says. She hopes Bates can address recruitment and other concerns.

"A little bit new eyes with everything that's happening right across Canada in policing … the crime that people are facing," Arpin said, "It's a tough call but he seemed to understand it."

Police recruitment and retention will be essential for the police service, Bates says: Current vacancies could have an impact on policing in the community.

The force can lose about 10 per cent of officers a year as they retire or leave for other reasons, which means the BPS needs to be on the ball in getting more officers on the job and trained, he says.

"It's really unprecedented to have that happening," Bates said. "Losing people at a higher rate than we have historically … we need to be nimble and flexible and mindful."

Bates also wants to BPS officers to engage with the community.

"The police are the community and the community are the police, as far as I'm concerned," Bates said. "They should know not just myself, but they should know who some of the officers are."

This can help build trust, an essential step in reconciliation, he says: There's a turbulent history between police and Indigenous people in Canada and to build relationships there needs to be understanding of past harms.

"Distrust is something that will only be broken down if you spend time … recognizing those past wrongs," he said. "I hope that in some small way that I can contribute to building relationships with Indigenous people, and aligning the Brandon Police Service with the interests of public safety within our Indigenous community."

Passing the torch

Former chief Wayne Balcaen— the city's 19th police chief who was elected MLA (Brandon West) in 2023 — says it was serendipitous seeing Bates take the reins seven years to the day of his job starting in October 2017.

Balcaen says change was needed at the BPS because organizations need fresh leadership to grow and flourish. 

The police chief must learn to deal with a lot of issues, Balcaen says, "like drinking water through a fire hose for the first little bit when you're learning a new organization."

Balcaen says he's confident that Bates's Manitoba roots and decades of service with the RCMP make him a good fit as police chief who is capable of  tackling rising crime rates and recruitment.

Bates says he plans on spending time with every working group within he BPS to familiarize himself with their day-to-day activities in the community.